Paint Their Dreams – A Community Mural Residency
May 2 | 8:00 am – May 9 | 5:00 pm
Overview
Paint Their Dreams is a 7-day community mural residency that brings artists and children together to transform the walls of a school into spaces of imagination, storytelling, and shared creativity
Hosted at Vinyasa Earth and taking place at Emerald School, the residency invites mural artists to collaborate with students and co-create artworks inspired by their ideas, dreams, and everyday realities.
The project is rooted in the belief that art can be a powerful medium for expression, confidence, and connection—especially when young minds are given the opportunity to participate in the creative process.
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About the School
The residency takes place at Emerald School, run by Sanjana Foundation, an initiative that provides free education to children from nearby villages.
For many of the students, access to creative platforms and interaction with practicing artists is limited. This residency creates a space where children are not just observers of art, but active participants in its creation.
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The Core Idea
The residency brings together 12 mural artists who will live at Vinyasa Earth and travel each day to Emerald School.
Each artist will work on a classroom or wall, creating murals inspired by the ideas and drawings of the students.
Rather than approaching the project as individual artworks, the focus is on co-creation, where children and artists collaborate to shape the visual identity of the school.
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Kids Design Day
At the heart of the residency is Kids Design Day.
Artists will spend time with students, inviting them to imagine what their school walls could become. Through guided prompts, children will draw their ideas, stories, and dreams.
These drawings become the foundation for the murals.
Artists will interpret and translate these ideas into large-scale artworks, ensuring that the final murals reflect the imagination and voices of the students themselves.
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Artistic Guidance
The residency will be co-curated and guided with Sneha Chakraborty.
Sneha will support participating artists in developing mural concepts, approaching large-scale compositions, and navigating collaborative processes with children.
Her presence adds a layer of thoughtful direction, helping ensure that the murals are both visually engaging and meaningfully connected to the students’ ideas.
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Residency Structure (7 Days)
Day 1 — Arrival & Orientation
Artists arrive at Vinyasa Earth, followed by introductions and an orientation session.
Day 2 — School Visit & Kids Design Day
Artists visit Emerald School, meet the students, and conduct the Kids Design session.
Day 3 — Concept Development & Base Work
Artists finalize mural concepts and begin wall preparation.
Day 4–6 — Mural Creation
Main painting days with active participation from students.
Day 7 — Finishing & Final Showcase
Final touches on the murals followed by a community showcase at Emerald School, where students, teachers, and invited guests walk through the transformed spaces.This moment becomes a celebration of the entire journey—where children see their ideas come to life and share the stories behind the walls they helped createn
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Climate & Living Experience
May in Rajasthan is warm, and we believe in being transparent about that.
Most of the mural work will take place indoors or in shaded classroom spaces, allowing artists to work comfortably during the day. We also shift our rhythm—starting early in the mornings and slowing down during peak afternoon hours.
Evenings at Vinyasa Earth are often the most special part of the experience. As the temperature drops, the space opens up for shared meals, conversations, and rest.
On many nights, we sleep under the open sky—surrounded by stillness, stars, and the desert air. It becomes a simple yet memorable part of the residency, bringing everyone closer to nature and to each other.
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What Artists Receive
• 7-day stay at Vinyasa Earth
• Daily meals
• Transport between Vinyasa Earth and Emerald School
• Art materials (supported by Sanjana Foundation)
• A dedicated wall or classroom to paint
• Opportunity to collaborate with students
• Documentation of their work
• Certificate of Contribution to Community Art
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Artist ContributionParticipation Fee: ₹15,000
This fee covers accommodation, meals, and local transport during the residency.
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Who Should Apply
We are looking for artists who:
• Work with murals, illustration, or wall-based art
• Are open to collaborative and community-driven processes
• Enjoy working with children
• Are interested in creating meaningful, impact-driven work
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Curators
Sankalp Sharma
Sankalp Sharma is the founder of Vinyasa Earth, an evolving creative space rooted in art, movement, and community living.
His work explores the idea of creating environments where people can reconnect with themselves through expression, collaboration, and shared experiences. With a background in dance and movement, he approaches art not just as a form, but as a way of understanding the self and engaging with the world.
Through Vinyasa Earth, he has been curating residencies, workshops, and immersive experiences that bring together artists, travelers, and seekers from different backgrounds. His focus lies in building spaces that encourage openness, experimentation, and meaningful human connection.
Over the years, he has worked closely with communities and children, using art as a medium to create dialogue, confidence, and a sense of belonging. His practice continues to evolve through collaborations that merge creativity with lived experiences.
Through initiatives like this residency, he aims to create platforms where art becomes accessible, participatory, and deeply connected to people and place.
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Sneha Chakraborty
Sneha Chakraborty is a mural artist whose practice lies at the intersection of public art, storytelling, and community engagement. Her work is rooted in using art as a tool for expression, healing, and connection.
She began her journey with her first mural in Mumbai in 2018, leaving her job to pursue art full-time. Since then, she has conducted over 200 art therapy workshops across India and travelled extensively, painting in remote villages while engaging with communities around themes of mental well-being and empowerment.
Through her Travel & Paint India Tour, Sneha collaborates with NGOs and local communities to co-create murals that reflect lived experiences and social narratives. Her practice has also expanded into new mediums, including exhibiting AR and NFT-based works in physical gallery spaces.
She has been recognized with the Woman of the Decade award by the Women’s Economic Forum and WICCI, and has been invited as a TEDx speaker.
Her journey, shaped by personal experiences and travel, continues to inform her belief that art can create meaningful connections and open spaces for dialogue and expression.
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Partners
Hosted by Vinyasa Earth
In partnership with Sanjana Foundation
Community support by Robin Hood Army
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Apply
Be part of a residency where art meets community, and where imagination finds its place on the
walls.